Fowl vent removal apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A rotating means in the form of a power operated tool rotates an elongated spiral member relative to a tubular serrated cutting member. The spiral member has a sharp tapered outer end which extends beyond the cutting edge of the cutting member. The spiral member penetrates into the area of the fowl adjacent the vent thereof and produces a reaction force to urge such area of the fowl into engagement with the cutting member to make a circular cut in the tissue surrounding the vent so as to disconnect the vent from the surrounding tissue and thereby remove the vent of the fowl.

United States Patent Lewis [54] FOWL VENT REMOVAL APPARATUS AND METHOD[72] Inventor: Ernest E. Lewis, Flowery Branch,

[73] Assignee: Gainesville Machine Company, Inc.,

Gainesville, Ga.

221 Filed: Jan. 21, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 108,316

[52] US. Cl ..'......l7l1l [51] Int, Cl ..A22c 21/06 [58] Field ofSearch ..17/l1, 52; 146/52 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,943,346 7/1960 Jensen l 7/ll 2,590,785 3/1952 Nea]y..... .L 7/11 [1513,705,440 1 1 Dec. 12,1972

6/l930 Jones ..l46/52 6/1949 Starbuck,Jr ..146/52UX [57] ABSTRACT Arotating means in the form of a power operated tool rotates an elongatedspiral member relative to a tubular serrated cutting member. The spiralmember has a sharp tapered outer end which extends beyond the cuttingedge of the cutting member. The spiral member penetrates into the areaof the fowl adjacent the vent thereof and produces a reaction force tourge such area of the fowl into engagement with the cutting member tomake a circular cut in the tissue surrounding the vent so as todisconnect the vent from the surrounding tissue and thereby remove thevent of the fowl.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnEcm m2 3.705.440

hwavr'ae fp/vzsr L. r/5

tin-M BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to amethod and apparatus for removing the vent of a fowl such as a chickenand the like. When chickens are processed, the feathers are firstremoved and the vent. of the chicken is removed to form. the initialstep in the evisceration procedure for removing the entrails from thebird.

In the past, the vent of the fowl is removed by hand utilizing a knifeor the like to make several cuts in the fowl in the area adjacent thevent. This type of manual cutting and removal of the vent istime'consuming and does not provide uniform satisfactory results.

SUMMARY 'OF'THE INVENTION' In the present invention, a rotating means isprovided in the form. of a power operated tool such as a drill ofconventionalconstruction. A particular advantage of the presentinvention is the fact that an ordinary electric tool can be readilymodified according to the present invention for effectively removingafowl vent.

The cutting means comprises a tubular serrated cutting member which isslightly larger in diameter than the fowl vent and is detailed to beattached to a stationary part of the support tool. A reaction member inthe form of an elongated spiral member is provided with a sharp taperedout end which extends beyond the cutting edge of the cutting member. Aportion of the spiral member extends through the cutting member and isattached to a spindle secured in the chuck of the tool.

During operation of the apparatus of the present invention the reactionmeans is rotated relative to the cutting member. The cutting member ispositioned at the outer surface of the fowl in the area adjacent thevent thereof and the spiral reaction member penetrates into the skin ofthe fowl outwardly of and adjacent the vent with a rotating motion so asto produce a reaction force urging the area of the fowl adjacent thevent into engagement with the cutting means which causes a circular cutto be made in this area of the fowl surroundingthe vent, thus releasingthe vent from the surrounding tissue to thereby allow the vent to beremoved and taken from the fowl when the entrails are later taken fromthe fowl in a succeeding step.

The present invention enables the vent of a fowl to be quickly andeasily removed even by relatively inexperienced personnel and providesuniform satisfactory results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective viewillustrating the ap-- DESCRIPTION OF. THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referringnow to the drawings wherein like reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, as seen in FIG. 1, afowl indicated generally by reference character F is supported in theposition shown with the body portion B hanging downwardly and with thelegs L thereof suitably suspended'whereby access can be readily gainedto the vent of the fowl. Reference character 0 indicates the openingformed in the fowl when the vent is removed utilizing the apparatus ofthe present invention.

As seen in the upper portion of FIG. 1, the operable support apparatusof the present invention includes an electric tool of conventionalconstruction indicated generally by reference character 10 .andincluding a casing 12 and a handle 14 from which extends a power cable16. A conventional trigger 18 is provided for operating the tool and theusual chuck 20 is connected with the rotating shaft of the tool.

The cutting means comprises a tubular serrated cutting member 30 havingan annular cutting edge 32 at the lower end thereof, this cutting edgeis detailed in diameter to be slightly. larger than the fowl vent andcomprises a plurality of teeth disposed in a circular array. v

The cutting member is rigidly attached as by welding or the like to asupport member 34. This support member is connected at the upper endthereof to a circular' clamp 36 which fits about a stationary collar onthedrill andvis suitably clamped thereto. by conventional adjustablemeans (not shown).

A reaction means is provided in the form of an elongated spiralresilient member 40 formed ofspring steel and the like. This spiralmember includes a tapered lower outer end 42 terminating in a sharppoint 44.

The upper end of spiral member 40 is rigidly secured as by welding orthe like to a spindle 50 which in turn is secured to chuck 20 in aconventional manner for rotation with the chuck when the drill isoperated.

When it is desired to remove the vent of the fowl, the fowl is supportedin the position as shown in FIG. 1 and the drill is operated to causerotation of the reaction member. The cutting member is disposed at theouter surface of the fowl surrounding the vent and the sharp taperedouter end of the reaction member penetrates into the skin of the fowloutwardly of the vent with a rotating motion to produce a reaction forcewhich urges the area of the fowl surround the vent into engagement withthe cutting means to make a circular cut around the vent to allow thevent to be removed.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changesthat fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form theirfunctional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are thereforeintended to be embraced by those claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for fowl vent removal comprising a tubular member having anannular cutting edge, reaction means comprising a flat strip coiledabout the axis of said tubular member with the broad face of the stripsubstantially transverse to said axis, said reaction means comprising aportion lying within said tubular member and a portion extendingoutwardly beyond the cutting edge thereof, said outwardly extendingportion terminating in a sharp tapered end, and means for rotating saidreaction means about said axis.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said reaction means has a diameteronly slightly less than that of said tubular member.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said tubular member is fixedlymounted and remains stationary while said reaction means rotates withinit.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said cutting edge is separated.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said reaction

1. Apparatus for fowl vent removal comprising a tubular member having anannular cutting edge, reaction means comprising a flat strip coiledabout the axis of said tubular member with the broad face of the stripsubstantially transverse to said axis, said reaction means comprising aportion lying within said tubular member and a portion extendingoutwardly beyond the cutting edge thereof, said outwardly extendingportion terminating in a sharp tapered end, and means for rotating saidreaction means about said axis.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein saidreaction means has a diameter only slightly less than that of saidtubular member.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said tubular memberis fixedly mounted and remains stationary while said reaction meansrotates within it.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said cutting edgeis separated.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said reaction means isformed of spring steel.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said reactionmeans is mounted on a spindle adapted to be received by the chuck of arotary tool.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the tapered end of saidreacTion means is spaced outwardly from the axis of said tubular memberand is positioned adjacent the cutting edge of that member.